What Are The Hidden Costs That Come With Moving Home?

Moving to a new home can be incredibly exciting- a chance to start fresh, and to move into a property that offers something that your last one didn’t. It could be more rooms, a bigger garden or a better area- either way, there was something motivating you to move which means the place you’re going to will be in some way better than the last. However, when it comes to moving there’s almost always stress involved, and not only is that due to having to lug your entire life from one location to another in boxes. But it’s the costs that are involved, here are some that most people tend to forget about. Knowing what they are can help you to budget and be prepared.

Fees, insurances and taxes

If you’re renting a property, you will need to pay at least a months rent in advance and a security deposit (this could be a number of months rent, depending on what the agency or landlord has specified). But on top of this, you also have ‘administration fees’ which include things like referencing and background checks, and these aren’t usually cheap. Just to move from one rental house to another can cost you hundreds, so have a chat with a number of estate agents and find out roughly what upfront costs you’ll need to save up, ready for when the right house comes onto the market. When you’re buying a home, on top of the cost of the property (or mortgage deposit) you’ll need to pay solicitors fees, you’ll have to cover survey costs, background checks, stamp duty and more. These can run into thousands, so again it’s something to be aware of so you can plan for. The last thing you want is to believe you’re ready to buy, and then find out you still need to save for months.

Moving company

A moving company really can make your life easier when it comes to moving house, especially if you have a lot of items or if you’re unable to physically move heavy things yourself. You could even go a step further and hire a company that helps you to pack as well, since this will be done professionally there’s much less chance of things getting broken in transit. However, these services come at a cost, and it’s actually far more than you might think. If you’re on a budget when moving, many people can save money by rolling up their sleeves and moving themselves- roping in friends and family where possible. You can find ute hire companies dotted around all over the place, simply hire a vehicle and load and drive it yourself. If you’ve had the move planned for a while and have had it in mind that you’re going to use packers and movers then do be sure to look into the cost as it could be far more than you imagined.

Sorting the new property

Unless you’re very lucky and move into a home that’s exactly how you want it, there will always be costs involved getting it to how you want it. It could be anything from full renovations to simple redecoration, but everything will come at a cost. You might need to hire a carpet cleaner, make some repairs, sort out the garden or even buy some new furniture since what you already own might not work in a new property. After you’ve viewed the property, be sure to make note of any changes you’ll need to make after moving. That way you can save and be prepared for them.